Sardinia

Photo courtesy of Lonely Planet

The beauty of Italy is endless.  Whether it is through the exploration of northern Italy and its Alpi or Central Italy and its capital of Rome, there are endless opportunities and experiences unlike any other while exploring Italy.  Why not take a deeper look into the treasures of Italy? The region of Sardinia (or Sardegna in Italian) is the second largest island in the Mediterranean Sea after Italy’s other famous island of Sicilia.  Sardinia is geologically one of the most ancient bodies of land in Europe. What makes Sardinia so unique and famous is the way the people live their lifestyle; through cuisine, their attitudes, and their big hearts..

Sardinian locals base living off the land to be a main priority. The key to living a Sardinian lifestyle is prospering in a state of simplicity.  Sardinia happens to be one of the top five healthiest places to live in the entire world.  The island is hardy and untamed, perfect for exploration.  Historically the island is made up of farmers or shepherds who harvest what the beautiful Sardinia offers from its land.  Sardinia was repeatedly invaded and exploited by outside raiders for their riches of the land, and therefore, the natives developed an extreme connection to their families and the communities they live in.  Maybe this is the key to Sardinians longevity.  Overall, the attitude of a Sardinian individual is positive.  They find beauty in the simplest of things, and their happiness comes from this way of living.  As a result, they live on a very low stress level and diffuse arguments with others. 

Sardinian people have been known to follow a healthy diet due to the foods and beverages they consume on a daily basis.  Instead of consuming cow’s milk as Americans do, they drink milk and eat cheese from a goat.  Sardinian goats have a unique quality that is useful to humans.  The goats feed off of dwarf curry, which is used in the U.S. to create anti-inflammatory drugs.  One of the most widely known Italian goat cheese is pecorino.   Local Sardinians feast off of sardines, dark red wine, and fava beans and barley to maintain their longevity.  In Sardinian history, it is well known that the local people walk long distances daily.  Since most men work in fields as shepherds, they walk miles upon miles through rocky terrains with their flocks. 

Sardinia is a hidden gem of Italy.  Their history can help anyone learn to follow certain lifestyles to a longer prosperous life.  If one can learn anything at all from the Sardinian people it is to eat a plant based diet, put family first, respect and celebrate your elders, drink a glass of Cannanau (dark red wine), laugh with the people you love, and take a nice long walk while enjoying what nature has to offer.  The key to this lifestyle is simplicity.  The simplest of things can bring you the greatest happiness.

Works Cited:

"Blue Zones." Blue Zones. N.p., n.d. Web. 08 May 2013.

"Authentic Sardinia." Intelligent Travel. N.p., n.d. Web. 08 May 2013.

by Kiera Coskran